Wrist mounted hand sling

ABSTRACT

A wrist mounted hand sling ( 1 ) having a wrist strap ( 2 ) that is worn around an individual&#39;s wrist and a sling strap ( 8 ) that is worn around the palm of a hand ( 20 ) between the thumb and forefinger. The sling strap is preferably loosely worn to allow objects attached to the sling strap to slide back and forth along the length of the sling strap, thereby keeping the objects from falling to the ground and in a position where the individual can easily grasp the objects if needed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an aide for attaching objects to anindividual's hand, and more particularly, to a wrist mounted hand slingthat attaches to animal leashes and other objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many individuals suffer from arthritis, carpal tunnel and otherafflictions that affect the motor function of their hands and fingersand/or the strength of their grip. This can cause a problem whencarrying, holding and/or using various objects, such as shopping bags,purses, tools, canes and so forth. This can also cause a problem whenperforming other tasks, such as walking a dog.

All of these activities require an individual to maintain a constantgrip on an object, which puts strain on the individual's hand andprevents the individual from using his or her hand and fingers for otheractivities, such as using a phone.

Therefore, a need exists for a wrist mounted hand sling that secures aleash or other object to an individual's hand and wrist, therebyrelieving the strain on the individual's hand and fingers and leavingthe individual's hand and fingers free for other tasks.

The relevant prior art includes the following references:

Patent No. Inventor Issue/Publication Date (U.S. Patent References)281,638 Mahar Jul. 17, 1883 2,553,317 Hill May 15, 1951 4,728,123 Kassalet al. Mar. 1, 1988 4,751,896 Miley Jun. 21, 1988 D337,395 Erlinger etal. Jul. 13, 1993 5,435,273 Landis et al. Jul. 25, 1995 5,695,380Morrison Dec. 9, 1997 6,082,308 Walter Jul. 4, 2000 6,095,093 Kisko etal. Aug. 1, 2000 D454,670 Weller Mar. 19, 2002 D519,686 Alameddine Apr.25, 2006 2012/0042837 Vandenbuckle Feb. 23, 2012 8,322,311 Gould et al.Dec. 4, 2012 8,413,613 Smith Apr. 9, 2013

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a wristmounted hand sling that secures a leash or other objects to anindividual while leaving the individual's hand and fingers free forother tasks.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a wristmounted hand sling that relieves the strain on an individual's hand andfingers caused by carrying or holding onto an object.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a wristmounted hand sling that prevents an individual from dropping an objectto the ground if his or her grip loosens on the object.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a wristmounted hand sling that keeps objects tethered to an individual.

The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providinga wrist mounted hand sling having a wrist strap that is worn around anindividual's wrist and a sling strap that is worn around the palm of ahand between the thumb and forefinger. The sling strap is preferablyloosely worn to allow objects attached to the sling strap to slide backand forth along the length of the sling strap, thereby keeping theobjects from falling and in a position where the individual can easilygrasp the objects if needed.

This is especially useful when walking a dog. For example, a leash maybe attached to the sling strap in a manner that allows the leash toslide forward and backward on the sling strap while the individual's armswings naturally forward and backward while walking. This preventsunnecessary tension on the leash, which can cause a dog to tense up andpull unnecessarily on the leash. This also allows the individual to holdother objects such as a phone or hand weights, while still havingcontrol over the leash. The leash may also be used for other animals andchildren.

The present invention is also useful for carrying objects such as pursesand shopping bags, canes, tools and so forth. In addition, the presentinvention may also be used for wheeled objects that are pulled by anindividual, such as luggage, oxygen canisters and so forth.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the following detailed description inconjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and describedillustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to theattached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a wrist mounted hand sling of thepresent invention laid in a flat position;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a wrist mounted hand sling of thepresent invention laid in a flat position;

FIG. 3A is a palm facing view of a hand on which a wrist mounted handsling of the present invention being worn and used to walk a dog on aleash;

FIG. 3B, a palm facing view of a hand on which a wrist mounted handsling with an attachment ring of the present invention being worn;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a hand on which a wrist mounted hand sling ofthe present invention being worn and used to walk a dog on a leash;

FIG. 5 is a palm facing view of a hand on which a wrist mounted handsling of the present invention is being worn and used to carry ashopping bag;

FIG. 6 is a palm facing view of a hand on which a wrist mounted handsling of the present invention is being worn and used to carry a cane;and

FIG. 7 is a front view of a connector of the present invention laid in aflat position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminologyused in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is asfollows:

1. wrist mounted hand sling, generally

2. wrist strap

3. attachment means

4. strap clip

5. slide

6. fixed end of wrist strap

7. adjustable end of wrist strap

8. sling strap

9. fixed end of sling strap

10. sliding end of sling strap

11. accessory ring

12. attachment ring

13. stop

14. leash

15. shopping bag

16. shopping bag handle

17. cane

18. cane handle

19. dog

20. hand

21. connector strap

22. first end of connector strap

23. second end of connector strap

24. leash hook

25. key ring

With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a front perspective view and a rearperspective view, respectively, of a wrist mounted hand sling 1 of thepresent invention laid in a flat position are illustrated. The wristmounted hand sling 1 of the present invention comprises a wrist strap 2that is secured around an individual's wrist using an attachment means3, such as a strap clip 4, clip, buckle, slide 5, hook and loopfastener, snaps, buttons, sewing and so forth. The wrist strap 2preferably has two ends; a fixed end 6 that is permanently attached tothe attachment means 3 and an adjustable end 7, which allows the wriststrap 2 to be adjusted to a size of an individual's wrist. A slide 5 mayalso be secured on the wrist strap 2 to further secure the wrist strap 2and set the wrist strap 2 to a desired length. A sling strap 8preferably having two ends is attached to the wrist strap 2, therebycausing the sling strap 8 to form a substantially C-shaped loop that isworn around a palm of a hand between a thumb and forefinger of a wearerand onto the rear surface of the wearer's hand, as illustrated in FIGS.3 and 4. A fixed end 9 of the sling strap 8 is preferably permanentlyattached to the wrist strap 2 at an angle. A sliding end 10 of the slingstrap 8 is preferably wrapped over the wrist strap 2 and secured to thebody of the sling strap 8 using an attachment means 3, such as a clip 4,slide 5, buckle, hook and loop fastener, snaps, buttons, sewing and soforth. An accessory ring 11 may be located on the sling strap 8 or wriststrap 2. A variety of accessories and objects, such as keys, pouches,wallets, pepper spray, whistles, watches and so forth, may be attachedto the accessory ring 11 for safe keeping and/or quick access while thewrist mounted hand sling 1 is in use. One or more attachment rings 12may be located on the sling strap 8 in a manner that allows the one ormore attachment rings 12 to slide back and forth along the length of thesling strap 8. The one or more attachment rings 12 may be used to attacha leash or other object to the sling strap 8. Stops 13, such as raisedstuds, may be located on the wrist strap 2 and/or the sling strap 8 assafety precautions. The stops 13 prevent the ends of the wrist strap 2and/or the sling strap 8 from coming disconnected from any attachmentmeans 3 while the wrist mounted hand sling 1 is in use.

With reference to FIG. 3A and FIG. 4, a palm facing view and a rear viewof a hand 20, respectively, on which a wrist mounted hand sling 1 of thepresent invention being worn and used to walk a dog 19 on a leash 14 areillustrated. The sling strap 8 is worn around a palm of a hand between athumb and forefinger, in a relatively loose manner. This allows theleash 14 to slide back and forth along the length of the sling strap 8while the individual's arm swings naturally forward and backward whilewalking. The leash 14 may be attached directly to the sling strap 8 bylooping the leash 14 around the sling strap 8. Alternatively, the leash14 may be attached to an attachment ring 12 (as illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2) located on the sling strap 8. The sliding of the leash 14 on thesling strap 8 prevents unnecessary tension on the leash 14 whilewalking, which can cause a dog 19 to tense up and pull unnecessarily onthe leash 14, thereby allowing the dog 19 to be walked on a “looseleash.” This also allows the individual to hold an object in his or herhand or use his or her fingers while still having control over the leash14 and dog 19 and maintained the leash 14 in a position where the usercan quickly grasp onto it if needed.

With reference to FIG. 3B, a palm facing view of a hand 20 on which awrist mounted hand sling 1 with an attachment ring 12 of the presentinvention being worn is illustrated. One or more attachment rings 12 maybe located on the sling strap 8 in a manner that allows the one or moreattachment rings 12 to slide back and forth along the length of thesling strap 8. The one or more attachment rings 12 may be used to attacha leash or other object to the sling strap 8 using an attachment means3, such as a leash clip 24, carabineer and so forth.

With reference to FIG. 5, a palm facing view of a hand 20 on which awrist mounted hand sling 1 of the present invention is being worn andused to carry a shopping bag 15 is illustrated. The sling strap 8 hasbeen inserted through handles 16 of a shopping bag 15 using strap clip 4to open and close the sling strap 8. This allows a user to use his orher hands and fingers freely while still holding the shopping bag 15.The wrist mounted hand sling 1 may also be used in a similar method tocarry purses.

With reference to FIG. 6, a palm facing view of a hand 20 on which awrist mounted hand sling 1 of the present invention is being worn andused to carry a cane 17 is illustrated. A handle 18 of the cane 17 hasbeen hooked around the sling strap 8 so the cane 17 will hang from thesling strap 8 when not being grasped in the user's hand 20. This allowsthe user to use his or her hands and fingers freely while still holdingthe cane 17. In addition, it prevents a user from dropping the cane 17if he or she has limited motor function.

Finally with reference to FIG. 7, a front view of a connector strap 21of the present invention laid in a flat position is illustrated. Theconnector strap 21 comprises a first end 22 and a second end 23 eachhaving an attachment means 3, such as a leash clip 24, key ring 25,ring, hook and so forth, located thereon. A strap clip 4 is preferablylocated between the first end 22 and second end 23 so that the first end22 may be detached from the second end 23 or so that the connector strap21 may be looped around an object. The connector strap 21 may be used toquickly connect objects having rigid handles, such as a retractableleash, luggage and so forth, to the wrist mounted hand sling 1.

It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific formor arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to beconsidered limited to what is shown and described in the specificationand drawings.

1. A wrist mounted hand sling comprising: a wrist strap having a firstend and a second end that are secured together around an individual'swrist using at least one attachment located on the wrist strap; a slidelocated centrally on the wrist strap between the first end and thesecond end for adjusting the size of the wrist strap; a sling straphaving a first end and a second end both of which are attached to thewrist strap in a manner to cause the sling strap to form a substantiallyC-shaped loop that is worn around a palm of the individual's handbetween the individual's thumb and forefinger and on the rear surface ofthe individual's hand; said second end of the sling strap is attached tothe wrist strap at an angle between the second end of the wrist strapand the slide that allows the second end of the sling strap to rest neara center of the individual' s wrist; and said first end of the slingstrap is a sliding end that is wrapped over the wrist strap and securedback onto the sling strap using an attachment means, thereby creating aloop on the first end of the sling strap that is located between thefirst end of the wrist strap and the slide.
 2. The wrist mounted handsling of claim 1 wherein: said attachment means used to secure the firstend of the sling strap over the wrist strap is an adjustment slide. 3.The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 1 wherein: said second end of thesling strap is a fixed end that is permanently attached to the wriststrap.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 1 furthercomprising: an accessory ring located on the wrist mounted hand sling.6. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 1 further comprising: at leastone attachment ring located on the sling strap in a manner that allowsthe at least one attachment ring to slide back and forth along a lengthof the sling strap.
 7. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 1 furthercomprising: at least one stop located on the wrist mounted hand sling.8. A wrist mounted hand sling comprising: a wrist strap having a firstend and a second end that are secured together around an individual'swrist using at least one attachment located on the wrist strap; a slidelocated centrally on the wrist strap between the first end and thesecond end for adjusting the size of the wrist strap; a sling straphaving a first end and a second end both of which are attached to thewrist strap in a manner to cause the sling strap to form a substantiallyC-shaped loop that is worn around a palm of the individual's handbetween the individual's thumb and forefinger and on the rear surface ofthe individual's hand; and said second end of the sling strap isattached to the wrist strap between the second end of the wrist strapand the slide that allows the second end of the sling strap to rest neara center of the individual's wrist; said second end of the sling strapis a fixed end that is permanently attached to the wrist strap; saidfirst end of the sling strap is a sliding end that is wrapped over thewrist strap and secured back onto the sling strap using an attachmentmeans, thereby creating a loop on the first end of the sling strap thatlays flat against the wrist strap and is located between the second endof the wrist strap and the slide.
 9. The wrist mounted hand sling ofclaim 8 wherein: said attachment means used to secure the first end ofthe sling strap over the wrist strap is an adjustment slide.
 10. Thewrist mounted hand sling of claim 8 wherein: said second end of thesling strap is attached to the wrist strap at an angle.
 11. The wristmounted hand sling of claim 8 further comprising: an accessory ringlocated on the wrist mounted hand sling.
 12. The wrist mounted handsling of claim 8 further comprising: at least one attachment ringlocated on the sling strap in a manner that allows the at least oneattachment ring to slide back and forth along a length of the slingstrap.
 13. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 8 further comprising:at least one stop located on the wrist mounted hand sling.
 14. A wristmounted hand sling comprising: a wrist strap having a first end and asecond end that are secured together around an individual's wrist usingat least one attachment located on the wrist strap; a sling strap havinga first end and a second end both of which are attached to the wriststrap in a manner to cause the sling strap to form a substantiallyC-shaped loop that is worn around a palm of the individual's handbetween the individual's thumb and forefinger and on the rear surface ofthe individual's hand; an attachment ring located on the sling strap ina manner that allows the attachment ring to slide back and forth along alength of the sling strap.
 15. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 14wherein: said second end of the sling strap is attached to the wriststrap at an angle.
 16. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 14 furthercomprising: an accessory ring located on the wrist mounted hand sling.17. (canceled)
 18. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 14 furthercomprising: at least one stop located on the wrist mounted hand sling.19. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 14 wherein: said second end ofthe sling strap is a fixed end that is permanently attached to the wriststrap.
 20. The wrist mounted hand sling of claim 14 wherein: said firstend of the sling strap is a sliding end that is wrapped over the wriststrap and secured back onto the sling strap using an attachment means,thereby creating a loop on the first end of the sling strap that laysflat against the wrist strap.